As a former librarian at Elon University, Laura West knows a thing or two about organization and managing a large database.
So, in 2005, after three years as a stay-at-home mom, when her husband Robert—an MSU English professor and book review editor for the Mississippi Quarterly—told her of a position available at the university publication, she jumped at the chance to put her skills to work.
Journal publishers wanted to create a database to track submissions, and Laura was the perfect fit. Not long after completing that assignment, editor Noel Polk hired her as managing editor and she has been working for the 61-year-old publication ever since.
Founded in 1948, the Quarterly is published by the College of Arts and Sciences and is dedicated to studying the literature, life and culture of the American South.
"It is an honor for both of us to be a part of this prestigious publication," Laura said. "And it is a great responsibility to take care of our authors' scholarly work and make sure it is presented in the best manner possible."